The 24-year-old, who was unarmed at the time ,was shot by Sergeant Martyn Blake in Streatham in 2022.
A helicopter and six police cars had been involved in trying to stop Mr Kaba after the Audi he was driving was linked to a previous shooting.
Statement from the Family of Chris Kaba:
“We welcome the IOPC’s direction that the Met Police must bring disciplinary proceedings against Martyn Blake. We hope this leads to him being removed from the Met Police. What Martyn Blake did was deeply wrong. We are still so devastated to have lost Chris – this should never have happened. The fact that the Met promoted Martyn Blake after the verdict only deepened our pain and showed a complete disregard for our loss. Martyn Blake should not be allowed to remain a police officer. He should lose his job.”
Statement from the Justice Campaign for Chris Kaba:
“Martyn Blake must be fired. The Met Police sent a devastating message when they promoted him immediately after the verdict – a decision that showed utter contempt for Chris’s life and for our community. Despite the IOPC’s clear direction today that misconduct proceedings must go ahead, we have no faith in the Met to do the right thing on their own. That’s why we will continue to fight for justice and accountability – until Martyn Blake is removed from the Met and barred from ever working as a police officer again.”
Assistant Met Police Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: “We recognise the significant impact of Mr Kaba’s death on his family who continue to grieve the loss of a loved one.
“Since NX121 was acquitted, the IOPC has been reconsidering whether he should face misconduct proceedings. We made strong representations that he should not face any further action due to the extensive evidence tried and tested at court and the not guilty verdict returned by the jury.
“We know any fatal use of force by police understandably prompts concern among communities. NX121 made a split-second decision on what he believed was necessary to protect his colleagues and London and a jury unanimously decided that was an honestly-held belief and the force used was reasonable.
“However, the IOPC has now determined that NX121 has a case to answer for his use of force and has directed us to hold a gross misconduct hearing.
“We know another lengthy process will fall heavily on the shoulders of NX121 and more widely our firearms officers, who continue to bravely and tirelessly police the streets of London every day to protect the public.
“Our armed officers respond to more than 4,000 incidents each year, but there are only one or two incidents where shots are fired by police each year. These officers are the most professional, accountable and cautious in their use of lethal force in the world and their operations have prevented countless acts of violence across our city.
“Now is not the time for debate and discussion about this case, it is important that we do not risk prejudicing NX121’s right to an impartial hearing.
“We will provide further updates and comment when these proceedings have concluded.”
A date for the hearing will be set in due course. To ensure independence from the Met for an impartial hearing, we will be asking a chief officer from another police force to chair it.
The firearms officer who was cleared of murder after shooting Chris Kaba in Streatham will face a gross misconduct hearing.
It follows a review by the police watchdog.
Martyn Blake shot the 24-year-old through a car windscreen in south after the Audi he was driving was linked to a shooting the night before.
Correspondent Jason Farrell expects a mixed reaction to the proceedings being announced.
